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Ankle And Shin
When clients think of ankle injuries, they often immediately think of ankle sprains. These are a common presentation to our podiatry clinic, however there are a number of different conditions that can also affect the ankle and shin.
Ankle and shin injuries can be debilitating and cause significant pain. These injuries can affect the way in which the feet function and lead to compensation pain in other areas of the feet.
Our podiatrists commonly assess and treat the following conditions:
- Talar dome injuries
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Achilles rupture
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- Tarsal coalition
- Lateral ankle sprains
- Medial ankle sprain
- Sinus tarsi syndrome
- Potts fracture
- Syndesmosis injury
- Shin Splints/MTSS
- Peroneal tendinopathy
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
To book an appointment, click here or call us on (03) 9432 3689.
- What Causes Ankle Pain? The ankle joint, like the foot, is quite complex. It comprises of bones, ligaments and tendons, all of which can be injured in different ways. Pain in the ankle can be due to injury to the ligaments, weakness of the muscles running alongside the ankle, malalignment of the ankle joint or injury to the bones. Ankle pain can be experienced by anyone in the population, whether that be an elite sportsperson or someone who has rolled their ankle wearing high heels.
- I think I've Sprained My Ankle, Should I See a Podiatrist? Yes! It is important to seek medical attention and see a podiatrist if you have injured your ankle. By having your injury accurately diagnosed, we are able to create a tailored treatment plan based on your symptoms and injury. Often, we will send you for scans to identify exactly which structures in your ankle have been damaged, which helps us determine the next course of action for you.
- My Ankle is Sore but I haven't Injured it, Why? Ankle pain doesn't always equal ankle sprains! You may be experiencing pain in your ankle due to its structure and function. As mentioned above, the ankle joint is very complex and there are a lot of structures that can be causing your pain. This type of injury or pain is often treated quite differently to an ankle sprain and may involve treatments such as orthotic therapy to assist with the alignment of your foot and ankle.
- How Does a Podiatrist Treat an Ankle Injury/Ankle Pain? This will depend on what the mechanism of injury was and what structures are affected. For example, we may treat an acute ankle sprain with bruising and swelling differently to ankle pain that is present due to osteoarthritis. We use a variety of methods to treat ankle pain, including:
- Taping and bracing
- Shockwave therapy
- Dry needling
- Orthotic therapy
- Rehab/strengthening programs
- Footwear modifications
- How Long Does it Take to Heal an Ankle Injury? This depends on the extent of the injury. In general, soft tissue can take roughly 4-6 weeks to heal, although this will depend on numerous factors including how many structures are damaged, how severely they are damaged and whether there is bruising and swelling present. Fractures or breaks within the ankle can take anywhere between 6-12 weeks to heal and this is also dependent on a variety of factors. It is important to note that everyone's injuries are different and recovery may be shorter or longer than what is considered the norm. All of these factors are also taken into account when prescribing your tailored management plan. The aim of rehabilitation is to assist with healing and prevent re-injury. With that in mind, we ensure that we take small, calculated steps in your recovery to ensure that you can get back to doing what you love safely as soon as possible!